Due to activities of smugglers, pirates and other criminal elements on its waterways, Nigeria loses huge revenue estimated at $2 Billion annually, contributing to the high cost of doing business in the country.

To this end, a bill to increase security presence and ensure the safety of marine activities in the Nigerian waterways has passed through second reading at the Senate.

Titled, a bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Coast Guard and other related matters, it is sponsored by the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district, Senator Akon Eyakenyi.

Leading debate on the bill, Senator Eyakenyi argued that there was urgent need for improved maritime security in Nigeria's water ways, especially given the fact that the country is strategically situated at the Gulf of Guinea with the busiest maritime zone in the coast of West Africa.

She submitted that since the coast remains the economic hub of Africa with Nigeria as the apex destination for business, there was need for the establishment of a specialized security outfit to protect and secure Nigeria's maritime assets and coastal waters.

Senator Eyakenyi maintained that, “Nigeria’s economy has been negatively impacted by threats to maritime security which are chiefly; Piracy, Armed banditry and Smuggling".

The increased insecurity on the Gulf of Guinea, the senator insisted, “has hampered the free flow of goods and distorted trade which in turn has adversely affected our economy”, with the Gulf of Guinea now categorized as the most dangerous waters in the world with the highest reported incidents of piracy and armed banditry.

Senator Eyakenyi, herself an indigene of a coastal community, Oron, in Akwa Ibom State, narrated that, “Nigeria’s coastal waters is a hotbed for pirates and armed bandits’ activities with extortion, stealing goods, snatching of traders boats, rape and kidnapping in the creeks being the order of the day.”

She explained that the intended specialized maritime security force in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant security agencies ensure enforcement of laws and regulations on Nigeria’s coastal and internal waters as provided for under the Suppression of Piracy and Maritime Offences Act.

The coast guards are also to ensure prevention of piracy, banditry, detection of crime, preservation of life and properties on Nigeria’s Coastal and maritime zone, rescuing of cargo and vessels in the event of marine accident and other natural calamity; carrying out investigations into the cause of the marine accident; among others.

Supporting the bill, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Smart Adeyemi observed that Nigeria needs coast guards now more than ever, given the current global challenges.

He also noted that the establishment of a coast guard for the Nigeria waterways would help other existing security agencies and while also creating job opportunities.

Also supporting the bill, was the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial district, Matthew Urhoghide who enthused that, “the Gulf of Guinea has become increasingly unsafe for those who carry out maritime activities, particularly those that are doing shipping business.

“Because of the absence of a proper force to ensure security in this zone, private companies have taken over provision of security in the zone.

We need coastguards just like we have in other countries like the United States of America, NIMASA alone cannot provide the security that we need,” Senator Urhoghide added.

The ones wey dey under the FG employ never get their salary una still wan add new ones wey go officially dey do the smuggling to enrich themselves ba?

I wonder why politicians think that creating one nonsense or the other will solve a deep problem. Nigerian Navy is practically a coast guard. They hardly do any thing besides counter-piracy. So If they haven't solved the problem then it means that another security group is not the solution.

Smh

The Nigerian Navy will do everything the coast guard dem wan establish.

Nigeria is not a rich country, make dem stop to they create all this unnecessary security agencies wey the FG go dey underfund.

Wat of the Navy?

I think the Navy needs to reassure the Con3 of its competence to protect lives ad properties on our coast if not their role is about ro be handed over to som oda persn